The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA)

MUSA tells the story of the history of the University of St Andrews. On display you can see highlights from the University's collection of over 112,000 artefacts. The museum has four galleries and a Viewing Terrace with panoramic views over St Andrews Bay.

Collection details

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Enduring Gifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy in St Andrews

17 March — 30 June 2018 *on now

Since its foundation in 1413, theUniversity of St Andrews has benefitedgreatly from public generosity. EnduringGifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy inSt Andrews explores a range of donationsand the motivations behind them,revealing how these charitable actshave shaped the University's existence.Come and discover some of the mostinfluential personalities and fascinatingobjects which have made the Universityof St Andrews what it is today

Suitable for

Website

The Natural History of Parasites

17 March — 17 April 2018 *on now

What do the botfly, bitterling and cuckoohave in common? They are all parasites, livingoff other organisms. About half of all speciesare parasites or have a parasitic stage to theirlife cycle, making it a common feature of thenatural world. This tour of the collectionwill consider what makes a parasite, whatadaptations organisms show as parasites, andhow they evolve. Held at the Bell PettigrewMuseum. Free but advance booking required.

Suitable for

Any age

Website

Walking Tour: ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’

20 March 2018 6-7:30pm*on now

The University of St Andrews is built on thegifts of generous donors. Take a peek behindthe scenes in some of St Andrews’ mostfamous landmarks and discover the tales ofthose whose lives have shaped the town.

Tour begins and ends at MUSA.

Free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

Any age

Workshop, club or activity

Out of the Box; Curious Creatures

1 April 2018 1-3pm

15 April 2018 1-3pm

22 April 2018 1-3pm

29 April 2018 1-3pm

Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Encounter African animals, celebrate Chinese New Year or upcycle everyday materials into something you can use at home!

Take a closer look at the creatures inside the Cabinet of Curiosity. Are there any important animals that are missing? What would you add? Make or draw a creature and show it off in a new cabinet filled with our visitors’ creations!

These self-led activities are available on Sundays and are fun for all the family.

Please ask at Reception to get started. Free drop-in, no booking required

Suitable for

Any age

Workshop, club or activity

Out of the Box: Curious Creatures

1 April 2018 1-3pm

15 April 2018 1-3pm

29 April 2018 1-3pm

Take a closer look at the creatures insidethe Cabinet of Curiosity. Are there anyimportant animals that are missing? Whatwould you add? Make or draw a creature andshow it off in a new cabinet filled with ourvisitors’ creations!

Suitable for

Any age

Website

Modern Masterpiece

5 April 2018 1-3pm

Ever tried to turn an old piece of woodinto art? Have a look at our Boswell ArtCollection and try your hand at creating amodern masterpiece using the weird andwonderful techniques of the artists! Held at MUSA, free, drop-in activity. Children shouldbe accompanied by an adult.

Suitable for

Website

Saxophone Quartet

8 April 2018 2:30-3:15pm

Immerse yourself in music at MUSA withthe talented musicians of the Universityof St Andrews scholarship ensembles.The students work to create these uniqueconcerts inspired by the objects on displayat the museum. Performances are held atMUSA and are suitable for all ages. Free, noneed to book.

Suitable for

Any age

Website

Medieval Mosaics

9 April 2018

Transport yourself to the magnificentmosaic courtyard of the Great Palace ofConstantinople, which remained a mysteryuntil the University began digging in the1950s. Uncover the hidden medieval mosaicsand create your very own mosaic fit for theEmperor!

Held at MUSA, free, but booking essential.

10-10.45am (Ages 3-6)

11am-12pm (Ages 7-12)

Events are held in a variety of locations and are all free. Unless otherwise stated, parents must stay with 3-6 year olds, but may drop-off 7-12 year olds at pre-booked workshops.

Suitable for

0-4

5-6

7-10

11-13

Website

Picture Yourself

12 April 2018

Capture an image of yourself to last alifetime. Portraits are full of clues aboutthe person they depict. Come and unveilthe secrets of the grand portraits aroundthe University, and then create your ownto take home!

Held at MUSA, free, but booking essential.

10-10.45am (Ages 3-6)

11am-12pm (Ages 7-12)

Events are held in a variety of locations and are all free. Unless otherwise stated, parents must stay with 3-6 year olds, but may drop-off 7-12 year olds at pre-booked workshops.

Suitable for

0-4

5-6

11-13

7-10

Website

‘The Women Who Shaped St Andrews’

13 April 2018 7:15-8pm

Enjoy an exclusive screening of our shortdocumentary, ‘The Women Who ShapedSt Andrews’. Discover the legacies ofthe powerful female benefactors whoinfluenced everything from natural historyresearch to student accommodation. Ponderthe reasons why stories of these womenare often ‘hidden’ from view, and join usas we celebrate their contribution to theUniversity we know today. View the EnduringGifts exhibition before settling down to thedocumentary. Refreshments will be provided.

Held at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

Any age

Website

Portrait Masterclass

14 April 2018 2-4pm

Let our guest portrait painter, Mark HLawrence, teach you how to capture youressence in the form of a self-portrait.Artists and their subjects have longused portraiture to present an image ofthemselves as they wish to be remembered.Learn the stories of some of the University’sportraits, think about your visual legacy, andcreate your own portrait.

Held at MUSA, free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

18+

Website

Birdspotting Walk

21 April 2018 2-4pm

Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair fromMUSA to discover which feathered friendscan be seen in St Andrews. Ranger TonyWilson will take you for a short walk alongthe seashore and help you spot and identifybirds on the way. This walk begins and endsat MUSA. Free but booking essential.

Suitable for

Any age

Website

Still Life Masterclass

28 April 2018 2-4pm

Instil some life into your drawings at thispractical workshop using artefacts andspecimens from MUSA’s collection as astill-life display. You’ll learn some tips andtricks on how to make a structural drawingand the basics of painting. Held at MUSA.Suitable for all abilities. Free but bookingessential.

Suitable for

Website

Sounding Out Astronomy

5 May 2018 2:30-3:30pm

Postgraduate Astronomy students from theUniversity of St Andrews collaborate withcomposers from the Royal Conservatoire ofScotland to produce six new compositionsperformed by the St Andrews New MusicEnsemble. Part of the SHINE: Code forEverything III installation. Free, no needto book.

Suitable for

Website

'Still Alice' Film & Talk

10 May 2018 From 10:30am

As part of Dementia Awareness Weekwe look at how museums are using theircollections and sensory experiences to workwith people living with dementia. Comealong and handle some objects from MUSA’scollections and discover why they act astouchstones to the past.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

For this unique series of events MUSA has teamed up with the Byre Film Club to bringyou some of your favourite films paired with a curator’s talk on an associated topic.You’ll have chance to see intriguing objects from behind-the-scenes of the museum andyour ticket includes a cuppa and scone.

Screenings begin at 10.30am and will be followed by a talk of approximately 15 minutes.

Held at the Byre Theatre, Abbey Street

Tickets £6. Tel. 01334 475000.

Website

Ever to Excel Discovery Afternoon

19 May 2018 From 2pm

Donating to a University like St Andrewsmakes world-class research possible. Exploresome of this research with experts in theEnduring Gifts gallery. They will highlight theimpact that the donations of St Andrews’most generous benefactors have on researchtoday: from Art History to Medicine.Refreshments will be provided. Held atMUSA. Free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

Any age

Workshop, club or activity

Young Archaeologists: Rotten Romans

26 May 2018 2-3pm

Fancy searching for clues in the ground witha trowel and a toothbrush? Then come andjoin us for this month’s Young Archaeologistsworkshop where we’ll be encounteringevidence of those Rotten Romans! Held atMUSA, free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

7-10

11-13

Website

St Andrews Through Time Walk

28 May 2018 2-3:30pm

Discover the history of St Andrews and itsfamous University on this stroll through thestreets. You’ll see some of the sites whichplayed a key role in St Andrews’ past and thestories they have to tell. Walk length roughlytwo miles. Please dress for all weathers andmeet at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

Website

Baby MUSA: Our Bodies

Held every month, Baby MUSA Timeallows your little one to discover someof the fantastic things found in museumsthrough stories, songs, art and messy play.

This drop-in activity is for babies, pre-school children and whoever looks after them. The MUSA Learning Loft provides aplace to relax, park your buggy and enjoytime with your children.

Suitable for

0-4

Workshop, club or activity

Out of the Box: Summer Solstice

3 June 2018 1-3pm

10 June 2018 1-3pm

17 June 2018 1-3pm

24 June 2018 1-3pm

Learn about the summer solstice and whatit means while creating some tropical crafts!From exotic-fruit pencil holders to brightenup your house to colourful pin-wheels totake outside, we have summer covered!

Suitable for

Website

Out of the Box; Summer Solstice

Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Encounter African animals, celebrate Chinese New Year or upcycle everyday materials into something you can use at home!

Learn about the summer solstice and what it means while creating some tropical crafts! From exotic-fruit pencil holders to brighten up your house to colourful pin-wheels to take outside, we have summer covered!

These self-led activities are available on Sundays and are fun for all the family.

Suitable for

Website

'Dunkirk' Film & Talk

7 June 2018 From 10:30am

Catch a glimpse of Scotland’s landscapes,buildings and livelihoods depicted in theUniversity’s Recording Scotland Collectionand discover why artists were enlistedduring the Second World War to create thisimportant visual archive.

Suitable for

18+

Admission

For this unique series of events MUSA has teamed up with the Byre Film Club to bringyou some of your favourite films paired with a curator’s talk on an associated topic.You’ll have chance to see intriguing objects from behind-the-scenes of the museum andyour ticket includes a cuppa and scone. Screenings begin at 10.30am and will be followed by a talk of approximately 15 minutes.

Held at the Byre Theatre, Abbey StreetTickets £6. Tel. 01334 475000.

Website

St Andrews Through Time Walk

16 June 2018 From 2pm

Discover the history of St Andrews and itsfamous University on this stroll through thestreets. You’ll see some of the sites whichplayed a key role in St Andrews’ past and thestories they have to tell. Walk length roughlytwo miles. Please dress for all weathers andmeet at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.

Suitable for

Website

Young Archaeologists: Curious Clothing

30 June 2018 2-3pm

Have you got the curiosity and the patienceto piece together evidence from thepast? Then join us for this month’s YoungArchaeologists workshop where we’ll befinding out what our ancestors looked like– from clothes and jewellery to armour andmake-up, you won’t believe some of thefreaky fashions! Held at MUSA, free, butbooking essential.

Website

E-mail

Telephone

01334 461660

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.